Screening and predicting posttraumatic stress and depression in children following single-incident trauma

Reginald Nixon, Alicia Ellis, Thomas Nehmy, Shelley-Anne Ball

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    26 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Three screening methods to predict posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms in children following single-incident trauma were tested. Children and adolescents (N=90; aged 7-17 years) were assessed within 4 weeks of an injury that led to hospital treatment and followed up 3 and 6 months later. Screening methods were adapted from existing instruments and examined (a) an Australian version of the Screening Tool for Predictors of PTSD (STEPP-AUS), (b) an abbreviated measure of initial PTSD severity, and (c) an abbreviated measure of initial maladaptive trauma-specific beliefs. The STEPP-AUS correctly identified 89% of the children who developed PTSD at 6-month follow-up and the 69% of children who were non-PTSD. Predictive performance of the others instruments was generally poor, and no instrument consistently predicted subclinical levels of depression.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)588-596
    Number of pages9
    JournalJournal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
    Volume39
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2010

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